BARKINGSIDE 1, STANSTED FC 2 STANSTED manager Terry Spillane was a happy man after seeing his side won 2-1 at Barkingside on Saturday. Goals from Paul Seymour and Ben Bradbury sealed the three points for the Airportmen and saw them move up one plac

BARKINGSIDE 1, STANSTED FC 2

STANSTED manager Terry Spillane was a happy man after seeing his side won 2-1 at Barkingside on Saturday.

Goals from Paul Seymour and Ben Bradbury sealed the three points for the Airportmen and saw them move up one place to 12th spot in Essex Senior League.

"We played very well, and I was really pleased because we had a few players missing through injury. We had some round pegs in square holes, and to be honest I would have settled for a point there.

"The kick off was brought forward to 1pm as they have problems with their floodlights, and that didn't help us as a couple of players were late due to work.

"Barkingside are a good team, and I thought we played really well. It was pleasing that we were able to see the game out after going 2-1 up."

Stansted started strongly, and were unlucky not to take the lead through Kareem Imbert but they were hit on the break and a cross fell for Brad Jones to put his side ahead in the 29th minute.

Ryan Murray went close with a header from years which was well saved by the home keeper, but the game changed seven minutes into the second half when Murray cut through the home defence and rounded the keeper before being brought down.

The keeper was sent off, and Seymour sent his replacement the wrong way from the penalty spot to level the score.

The replacement keeper was an outfield player, but had clearly played in goal before and brought off a series of excellent saves to keep his team in the game.

But there was nothing he could do to prevent Stansted's winner in the 62nd minute when Seymour played a perfect ball to Bradbury and he curled the ball into the top corner for an excellent strike.

A virtual carbon copy six minutes later brought off a fine save from the stand-in keeper, and Greg Taylor also went close after some good work by Imbert.

The home side came back into it in the final 10 minutes, with Jones unlucky to see his shot from the left hit the base of the right hand post, but the Airportmen held on for their third league win of the campaign.

"It got last week's defeats out of our system, and it's a great win" said Spillane.

The Airportmen face Burnham Ramblers in the League Cup on Saturday. The Airportmen are already assured of top spot in the group, and a home quarter-final, while Ramblers have sewn up second place.

Tuesday evening sees the eagerly awaited first Essex Senior League game against Takeley at the newcomers Station Road ground.

Don Watters' side are second in the table following their promotion from the Essex Olympian League, and Spillane is excited about the game:

"We're really looking forward to it," said Spillane, "they're the form team and Don's done a great job in their first season in the Essex Senior. We'll experiment a bit on Saturday and hope to avoid any injuries."

* Saffron Walden Town's home game against Great Yarmouth Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Saturday.

The Bloods will hope to return to action on this Saturday when they travel to Thetford Town for a Ridgeons League Division One game. Thetford are one place below Walden in the table, laying in 15th spot with 11 points from as many games.